eelozano

Just a mini rant.

To any other larger people who attempt to lose weight on a bicycle.

Doesn't it discourage you when everyday you have some kids drive by in a car an yell some obscene language in regards to your size?

I'm used to people doing this on occasion and I can handle it, but when your out there for the sole purpose of exercise and your trying to focus in on just riding it really throws a wrench in your spokes (pun intended) when some people just are plain hateful.

GRRR!!!

Siu Blue Wind

Oh, don't you nevermind them. Be proud that you are out there doing something good for yourself. The other day I saw a bigger guy on a bike. He was moving slowly, apparently having a hard time. What I felt when I saw him was inspiration. I SOOOOO wanted to encourage him on and say "YOU GO, GUY!" But I didn't for the reasons you stated. I didn't want him to think I was sarcastic. I didn't want to hurt his feelings if he took it wrong. But you know what, Eelozano? "YOU GO, GUY!" and remember that which each pedal stroke, each breath, each time someone says something negative, you are just one step closer to a better, healthier, happier you. Keep on going, don't stop and be very, very proud of yourself.

catatonic

Doesn't bug me since I workout even harder when angry.

Best speeds I ever achieved on a bike were when I was all out purple faced, eyes about to pop out, steam blowing out of my ears, and ready to blow a massive vein in my forehead angry.

Platy

Smile and wave back. I suspect we underestimate how often motorists see us repeatedly out on the street. They'll probably see you out riding more than once, maybe many times. They'll quickly lose interest in their game.

I'm a big guy, too. I only got any taunting like that years ago, the first few weeks I was out. I was walking at that time instead of cycling. Two teenage hoodlums in a car even tried to startle me by brandishing a toy gun at me. Another guy pulled his car right in front of me and started witnessing his religion. But it all stopped. I don't know why it stopped. I can think of only two things. First, the effect of becoming a familiar sight in my part of town. Or second, maybe somehow in my first excursions a certain lack of confidence in being out there was showing through.

A few months ago I was cycling in a residential neighborhood. A guy in a battered old pickup started honking at me and he was hollering and gesturing wildly. As he passed me I could see & hear that he was cheering me up a little hill.

baj32161

Don't worry about losers like that....at least you are out there DOING IT!! instead of sitting on your butt in an air conditioned car. If I was to pass you, believe me you would hear some encouragement. This is from someone who has heard it all before. After losing 86lbs over the past 3 years I no longer hear those remarks.

At 6'1", 208lbs I am big for a cyclist (and could lose about 20 more, which I am still working on) but I am also a size where people don't like to tangle with me either.

Keep on keepin' on...you will be fine.

Cheers,

Brian

Cyclaholic

Yeah, me too. I used to cop a bit of that type of $h!t before I lost a bunch of weight. I used to get sooo p!ssed and then pump those pedals like a steam train.

It was a long time before I realised it was ME that I was p!ssed at, for having let myself get into such bad physical shape in the first place.

Don't worry, you'll shed the weight soon enough, just use the anger to your advantage, channel it into the cranks

sentinel

So is a guy who is 6'1" and 245 a bit big for a bike too? I've been enjoying riding as much as possible. I know it's not much, but one of my favorite country routes is 11.6 miles. Maybe I'll try another long ride this evening.

Dang

Smile and flip them off...

catatonic

I already do...I've lost tons of weight so far...20 more lbs till I'm at 200....at 190 I was fat but not too shabby....my goal is about 180....at that point I'm rewarding myself with a very nice bike....either practically dripping with CF or I'm going balls-out customization on it.

Cyclaholic

Coincidence! my reward for when I get to my target fitness level is going to be a really nice road bike too. I figure that if I'm still keen on cycling at that point and have all that hard won fitness I may as well get into a club ad do a bit of racing. What's weird is that I have lost hardly any weight though my waist has come in over 6 inches, but my legs have totally exploded in size. I'm down to 230lb from 234lb, I gave up on a target weight now it's just a target body fat % because at this rate I have no idea what that final weight will be

BTW I figured you were well on your way, I meant that last line of encouragement in my previous post for the OP. I should have been clearer about it, I suppose

mtnbiker66

One guy in my neck of the woods likes to yell some colorful language when he passes any bikers. I have told him on several occasions that he is #1 in my book.

-=(8)=-

Dont worry about them.
Your weight is going to change but they are still going to wake up every morning and be the same miserable, angry and immature individual they have been for
a long time. A person that does that crap hates themselves more than you.

rule

I use it as motivation. And personally, a negative comment is good for a whole lot more mileage than a positive one.

Groundhawg

Hi eelozano. I sometimes get yelled at. It's mostly from kids. I just smile and wave at them. This seems to bother them more than anything. Their trying to get you upset. If you just smile and wave at them.. they'll eventually stop doing it. Just act like it doesn't bother you. Don't get discouraged, It's just part of cycling that all of us have to put up with every now and then.

Congratuations on picking cycling for exercise. I wish you the best in your weight loss goals. BTW Joggers also encounter this a lot. Mostly teenagers. I was visiting one of my realitives the other day..and a guy in his late 50's or early 60's was out jogging. I've saw him jogging aroung town for about 3 years. It was about 5:30 in the afternoon. He was jogging down the road in front of my reletives house. A car load of kids were driving by, They slowed down and hollered at the jogger..." Good running grandpa, need to pick up the pace a little". The jogger never even looked at them. He acted as if they weren't there.

They just laughed and went on down the road.